Wrecking-truck



Nov. 8, 1932. o. s. HUBBARD 1,886,681

WRECKING TRUCK Filed June 28, 1930 I 4 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII O SCAR S. HUBBARD Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES OSCAR S. HUBBARD, OF FARML'AND, INDIANA \VR-ECKING-TRUCK Application filed June 28,

This invention relates to improvements in wrecking-trucks of the type in which a hoist device is embodied, said device comprising a sheave over which a tackle is operated, either manually or by mechanical power, for the recovering of disabled automobiles.

In many instances in which the pull exerted through the tackle is in a direction other than vertical, the truck, (although it may be of relatively large size, and even though wheels may be blocked), will yield its position; the hoist device thereby being rendered inefl'ective.

I am aware that inventions have heretofore been patented, having for their purpose the propping of the hoist device, or the staying of the wheels of the truck. Such devices however, are ineffective in so far as facilitating the pull of the load from its dead position is concerned, unless the truck can be anchored to some immovable object such as a tree or a building structure.

To provide means whereby the above named disadvantages may be overcome, is the general object of my invention. The said general purpose, as well as other and more specific aims of my invention are accomplished by the new construction, combination and arrangement of parts described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is defined in the claims.

The several parts of the invention are identified by suitable characters of reference applied to them in the different views in the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved wrecking-truck.

Figure 2 is a rear view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the rear portion of Figure 1.

Figure at is an enlarged detail view of the upper portion of the strut, and of its connections with the mast.

Figure 5 is an end view taken in the direction of arrow 5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the lower portion of the strut, and of one of the stay bars, and its connection with the truck rear axle housing.

1930. Serial No. 464,499.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the changed positions of the side member of the strut, and of the handle levers when the strut will have been lowered to the dotted line position indicated in Figure Figure 8 is a detail view showing a form of toe block application to the foot bar.

The embodiment of my invention as same is described and illustrated herein is of the form preferred in general, and in detail, for a truck of common construction. In such a truck the hoist device and tackle equipment comprises a usual rearwardly slanted mast structure, a sheave pulley, cable and winch.

'My invention provides a compression member, or strut, carried in a suspended position by the frame portion of the hoist device,

means whereby the said strut may be lowered to a plane substantially coincident with the plane of the road surface, and a stay element between a part of the frame of the truck and the lower portion of the said strut.

In practicing the invention the strut is disposed in the lowered position. The several parts as above described function in such manner, that immediately upon the establishment of a tension in the cable, (such tension being incident to a pull on the load) the strut is pressed firmly against the road surface or ground, and is there held immovable. The truck being connected to the strut by the stay member, it is held securely against movement.

The mast structure which is secured to the floor A of the truck frame, comprises the usual complementary opposed metal bars B and B, the uprights C and D, and the braces E and F. Carried by a block G, at the head of the mast, is a sheave pulley H. From a winch J a usual cable K is operated over the said pulley.

The strut or stiff leg structure comprises opposed complementary slanted sides, consisting of angle bars 1 and 1, three inches by two inches in cross section, retained at spaced distance apart by a foot bar 2 which consists of a three by four inch T bar. Joined by a hinge pin 3 to the upper end of each of the side bars 1, is a hand lever 4. Spaced from the center of said hinge pin 3 is a latch pin hole 5. In each of said hand levers 4, at a given distance from the pivot pin 3, is a bore which is journaled on a bearing pin 6. This bearing pin 6 has a head 6a and journal 6?) and it is drawn to and secured rigidly in engagement with the liner blocks? by a nut 8. In each of the said lever bars, at points equidistant from the pivot pin 3, are pin holes 9'and 10. Thedista'nce between the center of pivot pin 3 and the center 10 of pin hole 9, and the distance between the center of pivot pin Sand the center of pin hole 10, is identical with the distance'between the center of pin 8 and the pin hole 5. In folded status the hand levers 4 and "side's-1 and l of the strut appear as shown in Figure '11,. the strut being atthe"raised position. A latch pin '12 (which may be suspended from tone of the parts by a small chain 12a inserted in the pin hole 5 of the strut bar 1 and the pin .hole 9 of the hand lever) latches the parts in the'position shown, the leg 1a of the hand lever staying the parts. Extending from the foot. bar 2, and to which said bar they are connected bybolts 14: are stay bars 15 and 15.

lA tfthe free end of each of these stay bars is ahead piece 16, which is provided with 'a stirrup 17. By the said stirrups, whichare retained by the nuts 18, the stay bars 'are'held inengagement with the rear axlehouslng L sotfthe truck.

, fMy' invention, in readiness" for use, appears fas shown in Figure ;1,'the strut being retained at the elevated position. Theparts are "so proportioned and they are arranged in 'suchrelation that the foot'bar 2 occupies position immediately against the rear edge of the foot'board A of the truck. Thus, the 'parts'are sufficiently elevated for road clear- 'ance,and they do not interfere with free'ac- 40icess to thefioor of the truck. To practice the invention the truck will have been placed position'desired for commencing the work Yofylifting and perhaps the .budging or the shifting of the'dead load (usually a disabled 'jautoinobile). The latch pins12 are then removed. By swinging the. hand levers 4,

(tn the bearing pins 6 to the reverse position indicated by the dottedlines in, Figure 1 and in the View shown in Figure 7, the strut will "ha ve becomelowered to the dotted line "position as shown in Figure 1. The latch pins are then inserted in the pinholes 5 of the side bar 1 and inthe pin hole 10 of the'h'and lever. 'Thus the parts are latched in the position shown in Figure7, the'leg 4b of theihand lever staying the parts.

For a truck which is intended for the'work Irequired usually by garag'es'and service'stasaid truckin "turn is automatically held against movement. By reason of,the stability thus aflorded for the "mast, the work of lifting and nibving and preparing for 'the towing in of the disabled automobile is materially facilitated. -Moreover, 'it renders possible the performance of materially heavier duty, wrecking trucks of relative- 1y lightweight. After the dead load will .have been lifted and preparations will ha-ve been completed for to'wing, the st'rut-is then returned to its normal or raised position as shown in Figure 1, the hand levers being'held in place by the latch "pins 12,- in the manner as hereinbefore described.

' My invention "isqavailable as a part of fwre'c'king truck equipment as it leaves the nianufactory, or it "may "be-supplied as *an tenement suitable for wrecking' trucks already i'nservice. -It'will be understoodthat in embodying the invention in tr'uckswherein the hoist devices 'm'ay' 'be of the crane or derrick type, andof different capacities and v styles, the structure and det'ailsof the invention may bemodified withi-n the'scope'of the invention as defined-by the appended claims without departure Efr'om the invention.

, .What I claimas invention is- 1. a wrech1ng truck having a hoisting devicefa hand lever Afulcrumed on 'a-' fiXed "part of said hoisting 'device,' a footed strut having its upp er portion pivotally connected to said hand lever *wher'eby' when the hand lever is swung on its fulc rurn thestrut may be raised or lowered, and a stay"member ,retai'ned between the lowerportionof the strut and the frame of the-"truck.

2. In a wrecking-truck hav'ing'a hoisting device, hand levers fulcruin'ed on 5 opposite sides of the frame of said hoistingdevice, a footed A shaped strut having its opposed upper portions pivotally conn'ect'edto sai'd'hand levers, whereby when "the hand levers are swung 'on their fulcrums,"the strut may be raised "or lowered, and a stay member loosely R8 iti ons, the throw of the hand levers isfof Q length to lowerthestrut to a plane substanconnected between the' lower "p'ortionsof the sides of' "said strut and" thefframe of the truck.

tially coincident with the plane of the road surface. It will beunderstood that'in'instances where the truck is of necessity locat-r ed on'grounds that do not afford a footing 6 for the strut, suitable footing "of timber" or 3. Ina wrecking-thick having a hoisting fde'vice, the must of which extends rearwardly,

handlevers fiilcfuined on the sides of the mast, a footed strut having the upper ends of its side members pivotally connected with the said hand levers, and spaced oppositely disposed stay members retained between the lower portion of the strut, and the rear axle casing of the truck.

4t. In a wrecking-truck having a hoisting device comprising a slanted mast structure, hand levers fulcrumed on opposite sides of the mast structure at a location near the end thereof, a footed strut having opposed sides the base portion of which said strut is adapted to become seated on the ground, and the upper ends of its sides being pivotally connected to the said hand levers, whereby when the hand levers are swung on their fulcrums, the strut may be raised or lowered, latching means to hold the hand levers and the strut in united relation when in the raised or in the lowered position, and stay devices between the lower portion of the strut and the rear axle casing of the truck.

5. In a wrecking-truck having a hoisting device, a footed strut, hand levers fulcrumed on the hoist device frame, and having connection with the upper ends of the footed strut whereby the strut may be moved to and from, and may be maintained in raised or lowered positions, and a stay member between the strut and the frame of the truck.

6. In a wrecking truck having a derrick thereon, a footed strut, a stay member retained between the lower portion of the strut and the frame of the truck, and a movable connecting member between the said derrick and the upper portion of the strut, the said connecting member being fulcrumed on the derrick and being operable to move the said strut to and from, and to retain same in, raised or lowered position.

7. In a wrecking truck having a derrick thereon, a footed strut having opposed slanted sides and being provided with a base portion adapted to be seated on the ground, stay members retained between the ends of the base portion of said strut and the rear axle casing of the truck, and movable connecting members between the sides of the said derrick and the upper portion of the sides of said strut, said connecting members being fulcrumed on the sides of the derrick and being operable to move the said strut to and from, and to retain same in, raised or lowered position.

8. In a wrecking truck having a hoisting device comprising a slanted mast structure, hand levers fulcrumed on opposite sides of the mast structure, the weight arm of each of said hand levers being provided with spaced holes and having a transverse flange, a footed strut having opposed sides, the base portion of which said strut is adapted to become seated on the ground, and the upper ends of its sides being pivotally connected to the weight arms of said levers at points in the latter between said holes therein, and

there being a hole in each of the sides of the footed strut to register with a hole in the said hand levers when the latter are at raised or lowered position and the flanges thereof are in alignment with the sides of the said footed strut, latch pins carried by said footed strut adapted to be inserted through the holes in the sides of the footed strut and through the holes in said hand-levers, and stay members between the lower portion of the strut, and the frame of the truck.

OSCAR S. HUBBARD. 

